Synthesis and coordination chemistry of phosphine oxide decorated dibenzofuran platforms

A four-step synthesis for 4,6-bis(diphenylphosphinoylmethyl)dibenzofuran (4) from dibenzofuran and a two-step synthesis for 4,6-bis(diphenylphosphinoyl)dibenzofuran (5) are reported along with coordination chemistry of 4 with In(III), La(III), Pr(III), Nd(III), Er(III), and Pu(IV) and of 5 with Er(III). Crystal structure determinations for the ligands, 4·CH(3)OH and 5, the 1:1 complexes [In(4)(NO(3))(3)], [Pr(4)(NO(3))(3)(CH(3)CN)]·0.5CH(3)CN, [Er(4)(NO(3))(3)(CH(3)CN)]·CH(3)CN, [Pu(4)Cl(4)]·THF and the 2:1 complex [Nd(4)(2)(NO(3))(2)](2)(NO(3))(2)·(H(2)O)·4(CH(3)OH) are described. In these complexes, ligand 4 coordinates in a bidentate POP'O' mode via the two phosphine oxide O-atoms. The dibenzofuran ring O-atom points toward the central metal cations, but in every case it is more than 4 ? from the metal. A similar bidentate POP'O' chelate structure is formed between 5 and Er(III) in the complex, {[Er(5)(2)(NO(3))(2)](NO(3))·4(CH(3)OH)}(0.5), although the nonbonded Er···O(furan) distance is reduced to ～3.6 ?. The observed bidentate chelation modes for 4 and 5 are consistent with results from molecular mechanics computations. The solvent extraction performance of 4 and 5 in 1,2-dichloroethane for Eu(III) and Am(III) in nitric acid solutions is described and compared against the extraction behavior of n-octyl(phenyl)-N,N-diisobutylcarbamoylmethyl phosphine oxide (OΦDiBCMPO) measured under identical conditions.     

Silica particle-stabilized emulsions of silicone oil and water: aspects of emulsification

A study of the emulsification of silicone oil and water in the presence of partially hydrophobic, monodisperse silica nanoparticles is described. Emulsification involves the fragmentation of bulk liquids and the resulting large drops and the coalescence of some of those drops. The influence of particle concentration, oil/water ratio, and emulsification time on the relative extents of fragmentation and coalescence during the formation of emulsions, prepared using either batch or continuous methods, has been investigated. For batch emulsions, the average drop diameter decreases with increasing particle concentration as the extent of limited coalescence is reduced. Increasing the oil volume fraction in the emulsion at fixed aqueous particle concentration results in an increase in the average drop diameter together with a dramatic lowering of the uniformity of the drop size distribution as coalescence becomes increasingly significant until catastrophic phase inversion occurs. For low oil volume fractions (phi(o)), fragmentation dominates during emulsification since the mean drop size decreases with emulsification time. For higher phi(o) close to conditions of phase inversion, coalescence becomes more prevalent and the drop size increases with time with stable multiple emulsions forming as a result.     

Di- and tri-alkylphosphine adducts of S-donor palladacycles as catalysts in the Suzuki coupling of aryl chlorides

The reaction of tricyclohexylphosphine with the S-based palladacycle [(Pd(mu-OAc)(kappa2-S,C-C(6)H(4)CH(2)SMe))(2)] gives several products, regardless of stoichiometry, one of which, [Pd(kappa1-OAc)(eta1-C(6)H(4)CH(2)SMe)(PCy3)2], has been characterised crystallographically. Despite this, catalysts formed in situ from di- and tri-alkylphosphines and [(Pd(mu-OAc)(kappa2-S,C-C(6)H(4)CH(2)SMe))2] show excellent activity in the Suzuki coupling of a range of deactivated, non-activated and activated aryl chloride substrates.     

Recent advances in the environmental applications of biosurfactants

Biosurfactants can be used for heavy metal or organic contaminant removal from contaminated soil or for bioremediation enhancement. Most research has been performed on the use of rhamnolipids. However, present and future studies involve new biosurfactants and new applications as sustainable, renewable additives for nanoparticle production and use.     

Two 2,6‐Dioxabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan‐3‐ones from Phragmanthera capitata (Spreng.) Balle (Loranthaceae)

Phytochemical investigation of the leaves of Phragmanthera capitata collected on Cassia spectabilis tree led to the isolation of two natural lactones, rel‐(1R,5S,7S)‐7‐[2‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]‐2,6‐dioxabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan‐3‐one ( 1 ) and 4‐{2‐[rel‐(1R,3R,5S)‐7‐oxo‐2,6‐dioxabicyclo[3.3.1]non‐3‐yl]ethyl}phenyl 3,4,5‐trihydroxybenzoate ( 2 ) together with the known compounds betulinic acid ( 3 ), dodoneine ( 4 ), quercetin 3‐O‐α‐L ‐rhamnopyranoside ( 5 ), quercetin 3‐O‐α‐L ‐arabinofuranoside ( 6 ), quercetin ( 7 ), betulin ( 8 ), lupeol ( 9 ), and sitosterol ( 10 ). Their structures were established by means of modern spectroscopic techniques, and the relative configuration of compound 1 was confirmed by X‐ray analysis. Compounds 1 and 2 were tested in vitro for their antiplasmodial activity against the Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine sensitive‐strains NF54 and 3D7. Compound 2 exhibited good antiplasmodial activity against both strains with IC₅₀ of 2.4 and 4.9 μM , respectively, while compound 1 was inactive.     

Physisorption and Chemisorption on Silver Clusters

Adsorption and coadsorption studies on free silver clusters show that nitrogen physisorbs like rare gases, whereas oxygen chemisorbs with similarities and differences to bulk silver surfaces. Silver nanoparticles activate, or even dissociate adsorbed oxygen molecules. The global electron configurations of the adsorbent and adsorbate dominate the stability at small clusters. This is more important than geometry and site effects. Due to electronic shell effects and electron pairing, the activation of oxygen strongly varies with size. At more than 40 free electrons in the complex, such quantum effects start to blur. The size dependence becomes smoother and general trends govern the reactivity, which is driven by the interaction between the charge state of the nanoparticle and the charge transfer of the reaction.     

Copper inverse-9-metallacrown-3 compounds showing antisymmetric magnetic behaviour

The use of phenyl 2-pyridyl ketoxime (PhPyCNO)/X(-)"blends" (X(-) = OH(-), Cl(-), ClO(4)(-)) in copper chemistry has yielded trinuclear clusters that have been characterized as inverse-9-metallacrown-3 accommodating one or two anions. The magnetic behaviour has shown a large antiferromagnetic interaction. The discrepancy between the Brillouin curve and the experiment has been assigned to the influence of the antisymmetric interaction. By introducing in the magnetization formula the antisymmetric terms derived from the fitting of the susceptibility data the simulated curve become almost superimposable to the experimental one. From the EPR findings it has been shown that the compound [Cu(3)(PhPyCNO)(3)(OCH(3))(Cl)(ClO(4))] () having isosceles magnetic symmetry or lower (delta not equal 0), the antisymmetric exchange is important (G not equal 0) and DeltaE > hv. The structures of the two complexes have been determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography.     

Voltage-dependent anion channel transports calcium ions through biomimetic membranes

The mitochondrial outer membrane channel (VDAC), a central player in mitochondria and cell death, was reconstituted in polymer-supported phospholipid bilayers. Highly purified VDAC was first reconstituted in vesicles; channel properties and NADH-ferricyanide reductase activity were ascertained before deposition onto solid substrates. 1-Palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine/1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-poly(ethylene glycol)-N-hydroxysuccinimide mixed vesicles containing VDAC were linked onto amine-grafted surfaces (glass and gold) and disrupted to form a VDAC-containing polymer-tethered planar bilayer. Surface plasmon spectroscopy, fluorescence microscopy, and atomic force microscopy measurements ascertained the membrane thickness, fluidity, and continuity. VDAC reconstituted in bilayers efficiently transported calcium ions and was modulable by two channel blockers, 4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid and l-glutamate. The novel setup may allow the study of the assembly of a polyprotein complex centered on VDAC and its role in mitochondrial biology, calcium fluxes, and apoptosis.     

Investigation of the zinc(II) acetylacetonate/benzotriazole reaction system in the presence of bridging N,N′-ligands: Pentanuclear, enneanuclear and polymeric complexes

The reaction of Zn(acac)₂ with btaH (1,2,3-benzotriazole) in dmf yielded the pentanuclear complex [Zn₅(bta)₆(acac)₄(dmf)]·dmf (1·dmf). In the presence of pyrazine, the pentanuclear [Zn₅(bta)₆(acac)₄(dmf)]·3.7dmf (2·3.7dmf) and enneanuclear [Zn₉(bta)₁₂(acac)₆]·6dmf (3·6dmf) complexes were formed, whereas in the presence of 4,4′-bpy the 1D coordination polymer [Zn(acac)₂(4,4′-bpy)]_n (4) was isolated. The molecular structures of 1·dmf and 2·3.7dmf reveal that the [Zn₅] clusters consist of four Zn^II ions which span the corners of a tetrahedron and the fifth resides at its centre. The molecular structure of 3·6dmf reveals that the [Zn₉] clusters consist of two corner sharing tetrahedra and the structure can be described as the addition of two [Zn₅] clusters of 1·dmf and/or 2·3.7dmf followed by the simultaneous abstraction of [Zn(acac)₂] and dmf molecules; this alternative was accomplished by recrystallization of 1·dmf from dmf which yielded 3·6dmf. Each of the μ₃-κN:κN′:κN′′ benzotriazolate ligands in 1·dmf, 2·3.7dmf and 3·6dmf spans an edge of the tetrahedron. The molecular structure of 4 reveals mononuclear [Zn(acac)₂] units bridged via 4,4′-bpy molecules to 1D coordination polymer. Characteristic IR bands of the four complexes are discussed in terms of the coordination modes of the ligands and known structures.     

Occurrence of Cationic Intermediates and Deficient Control during the Enzymatic Cyclization of Squalene to Hopanoids

Tetracyclic triterpenes (for example, 3 ) are formed as minor products of the cyclization of squalene ( 1 ) by squalene/hopene cyclase; they have also been found in vivo. The identification of these side products offers new insight into the complex biosynthesis of the hopane skeleton, and proves that the enzyme has no absolute control of the conformation of the acyclic substrate squalene and that tetra- and pentacyclic carbocationic intermediates are involved (for example, 2 ) in the cyclization process.